Sheet cutting, stitching, and folding mechanism



c. s. CRAFTS 2,104,452

SHEET CUTTING, STITCHING, AND FOLDING MECHANISM Jan. 4, 1938- Filed Jan. 6, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,ATTORNEYS Jan. 4, 1938. c. s. CRAFTS SHEET CUTTING, STITCHING, AND FOLDING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 6, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r QVEN OR i V BY- 7 WWW Patented Jan. 4, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE snaa'rcu'rrmc, srrr CHING, AND FOLDING MECHANI Curtis S. Crafts, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to The Goss Printing Press Company, Chicago, 11]., a

corporation of Illinois Application January 6, 1936, Serial No 57,682

25 Claims.

7 ful improvements in stitching mechanism employed in such machines.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be. set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, construction, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a mechanism embodying the invention and showing the mechanism at the beginning of the stitching of the product; v v

Fig. 2 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1, but showing the stitching mechanism at the instant of completing the stitching operation;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectiontaken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail of the staple driver.

One object of the present invention is to provide a rotary stitching mechanism of the type employing a stationary staple former, which provides the maximum of time and of distance of rotary travel within which to drive and clinch the staple, which is of first importance in high speed work. A further object is that while driving the staple as described, it provides at all times during the driving of the staple a support for the. outside of the staple legs to prevent outward spreading, and at the same time provides continuous support for the back portion of the .staple during the driving and clinching. The mechanism provides further for gradual retraction of the stitching mechanism within the periphery of its cylinder during the occurrence of the stapledriving operation, the mechanism reaching complete'withdrawal within the cylinder just as the clinching is effected on the common diametral line of the two cylinders. This not only provides a relatively slow, gradual and thoroughly controlled stapling action with continuous guidance and support for the staple, as above described, but it also obviates striking or other disturbance of the running webs by the stitching mechanism or protrusion of parts of the stitching mechanism within the periphery of the clinching cylinder, and effects the stitching operation with all the parts and the product in normal positions and relations. 'A further object is to provide continuous positive guidance'and support for both the back and legs during the forming of the staple and also practically the entire time of driving it into the product. The mechanism is further especially capacitated to cooperate with a staple former which is spaced away sumciently so as to give clearance for cutting knives mounted on the same cylinder, this being effected by merely increasing somewhat the amount of projective and retractive travel of the stitching mechanism with respect to its cylinder.

With the foregoing and other objects and capabilities in view, a staple forming and driving mechanism is provided wherein the projection of the mechanism from its carrier and its retraction within its carrier. and also the forming and driving of the staples are concurrently effected by relative movement of different parts of the staple engaging devices; that is, in the present embodiment there are two side guide plates which engage with the ends of the cut wire to bend the legs of the staple during the forming operation and then while engaging the legs they guide and support the staple during the driving operation, and there is a staple driver located intermediately these two side guide plates which driver engages the central part of the cut wire, and holds it to and sweeps it along the former during the staple forming operation, and after the staple is formed and is oil the former, the driver supports the back bend or reach of the staple as it is being driven into the product. The .relative movement of the guides and the driver during their projected and retracted movement effect the forming and driving of the staple, and practically blend it all into one movement and operation.

The stapling mechanism is just a short distance within its farthest outward projected position Just as it carries the staple ofl the former and begins to force it into the product, and the retractive movement to its position within the periphery of the carrier immediately begins, and is completed when the mechanism. reaches the common diametral line of the two carriers. The driving of the staple occupies the entire time and distance of the rotary movement from the horn to said common diameter, and the relative move ment of the side guides and the driver during their retractive movement effects the driving of the staple, the side guides moving through the distance fromthe ends of the staple legs to the periphery of the cylinder while the driver moves the distance from the back of the staple to the peripheryof the cylinder, the entire movement being concurrent, harmonious and occupying the full available time interval. A corresponding relative movement occurs during the projective or outward movement of the staple mechanism to take the cut wire and to form the staple.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description as well are illustrative and exemplary but are not restrictive of the invention.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated by way -o1 example in the accompanying drawings, the invention is shown embodied in a rotary machine capacitated to cut, collect, stitch and fold sheets cut from a running web or webs, such as a. perfected web or webs coming from a rotary newspaper or magazine press, the perfected web or associated webs frequently being run over one or more longitudinal formers and associated previous to being supplied to the mechanism here described. In the present exemplary embodiment, two cooperating cylinders I and 2 are shown, which coact to effect the cutting and stitching of the product, which is also collected and transversely folded on one of the cylinders. As here exemplified, the cylinder I carries the clinching head 3 of the stapling mechanism while the staple forming and driving mechanism is mounted on the cylinder 2. In like manner, in the present embodiment, the sheet cutting mechanism is mounted upon these coacting cylinders, the recessed cutting block 8 being mounted on the cylinder I and the knife 9 upon the cylinder 2, with the usual resilient bar I0 extending along either side thereof. The collecting mechanism is mounted upon the cylinder I and is shown as sets of impaling pins I5, mounts ed 'on arms l6 fixed on a shaft II, this mechanism being constructed and operated in a well known manner. The folding mechanism is also shown as mounted on cylinder I, having rotary folding blades I8 mounted on shafts I9, the folding blades cooperating with a pair of folding-off rollers 20, which mechanism likewise may be of well-known form.

In the embodied staple-forming mechanism, a stationary arcuate staple-forming member 21 is mounted on the machine frame close to the cylinder 2, with its staple-forming part concentric with the cylinder. This staple-forming member may likewise be of well-known or other suitable form. As shown, the mechanism 28 presents the short pieces of wire which are to form the staples at the point W, and these pieces of wire are taken by the stapling mechanism and bent into the three-part staple form as they are swept along the former 21 by the stapling mechanism in the usual manner. The members 3| impart the slight inward bend to the legs of the staple that are provided to guard against lateral spreading of the staple while it is being driven into the product, and may be of known or other desired form.

The staple-forming and driving mechanism mounted on the cylinder 2 comprises a movable member 31 which may be conveniently styled the plunger, and which comprises two spaced-apart side guide plates 38 and 39 which areinternally longitudinally grooved at 35 and 36 to receive the legs of the staple, as shown in Fig. 3,. and comprises also a. staple driver 40 located between the two side members and longitudinally movable relatively thereto. The driver lll has a groove ll in its face, in which rests the back or middle part of the wire stapie. In the forming of the staple the cut oil'length of wire is fed into the stitcher mechanism at station W, shown conventionally in Fig. 2, and is engaged by grooves in the ends of the guide plates 38 and 38- of the plunger 31 and is carried forward thereby.

As.the'mechan1sm moves forward lust to the left of station W in Fig. 2, the ends of the wire are bent up on the former, to form the legs of the staple, the staple at the same time moving downwardly into the internal longitudinal grooves 35 and 36 in the plates 38 and 30. In the meantime the driver ll as it approaches station W has been gradually projected out of the cylinder and reaches its farthest out position approximately when the staple is completely formed as above described, and it then supports the back bend of the staple in the groove in its end as it sweeps along the former. As the bent staple reaches the mechanism 3 I it passes within these former plates and the outer portions of the two legs are given the slight inward bend previously referred to.

In accordance with one feature of the invention, the mechanism as embodied is further adapted to cooperate with a former 21 which is set just outside the circular path of the edge of the knife 9, and in accordance with this feature,

the entire stitching mechanism is movable outwardly from the periphery of the cylinder 2 to pass into operative relation with the former to form the staple, and is then retractable within the periphery of the cylinder during the driving and clinching of the staple. Further as embodied the staples are driven through the product and clinched while the mechanism is moving between the end of the former, where the staples leave the former, and the point of contact of the cylinders I and 2, that is, the common diametral line of the two cylinders where the clinching of the staple is effected.

In the embodied means forprojecting the plunger from and retractingit within the carrier and for effecting relative movement between the plunger and driver, the plunger 31 at its inner end is pivotally mounted on an arm 41, fixed on a shaft 48 journalled in the cylinder 2, there being usually two or more alined stitching mechanisms so mounted so as to concurrently put a plurality of stitches along the subsequent cross fold line. The shaft 48 is actuated by suitable means (not shown), as by an external arm fixed to the shaft and carrying a cam roller running on a fixed cam track. For the purpose of guiding it, plunger 31 is mounted between grooved guiding rollers 5| and 52, which are pivotally mounted on a bracket 53 fixed to the cylinder structure.

In the embodied means for projecting the driver from and retracting it within the carrier 2 and for effecting its relative movement with respect to the plunger, the driver 40 is pivotally mounted at the intermediate bend, at 56 upon an arm 51, which arm at its other end is pivotally mounted at 58 upon a bracket I9, mounted on the machine frame. The driver ll at its outer end is pivoted at 83 to an arm 4, fixed on a shaft 85 journalled in the cylinder 2. Shaft I is actuated by suitable means (not shown), as by an external arm having a cam roller running on a fixed cam track. All of the driving mechanism of all the stitching mechanisms in line on the cylinder 2 are similarly mounted and actuated from shaft 85.

In the operation of the mechanism just described, it may be first considered in its stationary projected position, sweeping along the front end of the former 21, with the staple completely formed, the legs of the stapleresting within the grooves in the inner sides of the outer ends of the guide plates 38 and 38, and with the back of the staple resting in the groove ll of the driver. Just as the staple is leaving the former and the legs for entering the product, the driver ll, which is in the projected position of Fig. 1, begins to retract and is gradually withdrawn into the cylinder until it reaches its innermost retracted position, within the periphery of the cylinder at the common diametral line of the two cylinders, when the staple is completely clinched. At the same time, the plunger 31 is in projected position, just clearing the bending plates 3|, and just before its outer ends contact with the product to be stitched, the plunger is gradually withdrawn into its cylinder and also reaches its innermost position substantially at the com mon diametral line of the two cylinders, the staple thereby being supported during the greater part of the driving movement into the product by the driver I at the back and by the side plates 38 and 39 of the plunger on the outside of either leg. Thus, by the time the mechanism has reached the position of Fig, 2, the common diametral line of the two cylinders, the staple is completely driven, and the entire stapling mechanism had been retracted within the periphery of the cylinder 2, the guide plates having been retracted along the legs of the staple plus the radial distance between the former 2'! and the periphery of the cylinder, while the driver has retracted only the latter distance.

By the mechanism and action described it will 'be seen that the driving of the staple is a relatively gradual operation, as it occupies the entire time and arc of movement between the end of the former and the point of clinching at the common diametral line of the two cylinders. The driver backs the staple during this entire time,

and also by its relatively slow retraction, positively, and relatively slowly drives the staple through the product. The side guides retracting more rapidly and keeping just clear of the surface of the product continuously support the legs of the staple against outward spreading and at the same time the back of the staple is firmly supported by the driver as the staple is continuously and gradually forced into the product and clinched as described, and during all this time the stitching mechanism follows a retractive path into the periphery of its cylinder. It does not strike against or deflect the fed webs. even when they comedown straight or tangentially between the cylinders, and the stitching mechanism does-not at any time enter the periphery inder, the straight wire is taken in the manner previously stated. and then by the continued movement of the mechanism is formed up into a staple as it sweeps along the former in the manner already described.

In accordance with certain features of the invention it may be employed in a mechanism having no sheet cutting means, or in a mechanism wherein the knife is mounted on one cylinder and itscooperating cutting block is mounted on the same cylinder with the stitching mechanism. In either of these mechanisms, the concentric stationary former may be brought very close to the carrier leaving only sufficient clearance for the passage of the wire being formed up into a staple where no cutting mechanism is used, or only sumcient space to clear the cutting bar when it is mounted on the same cylinder. With either of these mechanisms, the reciprocatory movement of the stitching mechanism would be correspondingly less, the plunger having still the necessary movement to form the staple in cooperation with the former and gradually retracting as the staple is driven into the product while traveling between the former and the common diametral line of the two stationary carriers, and at this point the plunger is drawn flush with the periphery of its carrier. The reciprocatory travel of the driver will also be correspondingly lessened, due to thegreater nearness of the concentric former. It is preferable in any case that the driver have some longitudinal movement as it approaches the common diametral line of the carriers so as to efiect a firmer and more positive clinching of the staple. In all forms of the mechanism there is the gradual driving of the staple into the product for the maximum distance and time, that is, from the former to the common diametral line of the carriers, and a continuous support and guidance of the staple legs by the plunger as it is being driven and the continuous backing support by the driver during this relatively gradual driving and clinching of the staple.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief adventages.

What I claim is:--

1. A rotary mechanism including in combination two cooperating rotary carriers, a stationary staple former adjacent one of said carriers, a stapling mechanism mounted on said carrier, said mechanism comprising a reciprocable staple forming and guiding plunger, a reciprocable staple driver, said plunger and driver being projectable beyond their carrier to cooperate with said former to form the staple, and means for retracting the driver during the driving of the staple.

2. A rotary mechanism including in combination two cooperating rotary carriers, a stationary staple former adjacent one of said carriers, a stapling mechanism mounted on said carrier, said mechanism comprising a reciprocable staple forming and guiding plunger, a reciprocable staple driver, said plunger and driver being projectable beyond their carrier to cooperate with said former to form the staple, and devices for retracting the plunger and driver during the driving of the staple.

3. A rotary mechanism including in combination two cooperating rotary carriers, a stationary staple former adjacent one of said carriers, a stapling mechanism mounted on said carrier, said mechanism comprising a reciprocable staple forming and guiding plunger, a reciprocable staple driver, said plunger and driver being projectable beyond their carrier to cooperate with said former to form the staple, and devices for retracting the plunger and driver to drive the staple into the product before they are completely retracted, into their carrier.

4. A rotary mechanism including in combination two cooperating rotary carriers, a stationary staple former adjacent one of said carriers, a stapling mechanism mounted on said carrier, said mechanism comprising a reciprocable staple forming and guiding plunger, a reciprocable staple driver, said plunger and driver being projectable beyond their carrier to cooperate with said former to form the staple, and separate devices for eiiecting retractive relative movement of the plunger and driver to drive the staple into the product before they are completely retracted into their carrier.

5. A rotary mechanism including in combination two cooperating rotary carriers, a stationary staple iormer adjacent one of said carriers,

- a stapling mechanism mounted on said carrier,

said mechanism comprising a longitudinally movable plunger having two side guides and a longitudinally movable driver located between said guides, said plunger and driver being retracted within their rotating carrier from the staple clinching point to the wire taking point, and being projectabie beyond their carrier to cooperate with said former to form the staple and devices for relatively moving the plunger and driver and retracting toward their carrier while the staple is being driven into the product.

6. A rotary mechanism including in combination two cooperating rotary carriers, a stationary staple former adjacent one of said carriers, a stapling mechanism mounted on said carrier, said mechanism comprising a longitudinally movable plunger having two side guides and alongitudinally movable driver located between said guides, said plunger and driver being retracted within their rotating carrier from the staple clinching point to the wire taking point, and devices ior moving the plunger and driver to project them beyond their carrier and relatively movable to cooperate with said former to form the staple and for relatively moving and retracting them toward their carrier while the staple is being driven into the product.

7. A rotary mechanism including in combination two cooperating rotary carriers, a stationary staple former adjacent one of said carriers, a stapling mechanism mounted on said carrier, said mechanism comprising a longitudinally movable plunger having two side guides and a longitudinally movable driver located between said guides, said plunger and driver being retracted within their rotating carrier from the staple clinching point to the wire taking point, and being projectable beyond their carrier to cooperate with said former to form the staple and means for effecting relative retractive movement thereof toward their carrier and relatively movable while the staple is being driven into the product.

8. A rotary mechanism including in combination two cooperating rotary carriers, a stationary staple former adjacent one of said carriers, a stapling mechanism mounted on said carrier, said mechanism comprising a longitudinally movable plunger having two side guides and a longitudinally movable driver located between said guides, said plunger and driver being retractable toward their carrier while rotating from the end of said former to the common diametral line of said carriers, said plunger being retracted at greater speed than said driver while the staple is being driven into the product.

9. A rotary mechanism including in combination two cooperating rotary carriers, a stationary staple former adjacent one of said carriers, a stapling mechanism mounted on said carrier, said mechanism comprising a longitudinally movable plunger having two side guides and a longitudinally movable driver located between said guides, said plunger and driver being retractable toward their carrier while rotating from the end of said former to the common diametral line of said carriers, said plunger being retracted a. greater distance at greater speed than said driver while the staple is being driven into the product, said plunger and driver being retracted entirely within their carrier on reaching said common diametral line.

10. A rotary mechanism including in combination two cooperating rotary carriers, a stationary staple former adjacent one of said carriers, a stapling mechanism mounted on said carrier, said mechanism comprising a longitudinally movable plunger having two side guides and a longitudinally movable driver located between said guides, means for moving said plunger outwardly beyond the periphery of the rotary carrier to cooperate with said former to form the staple and for retracting it during the driving of the staple, and means for moving said driver outwardly beyond the periphery of the carrier to cooperate in forming the staple and for retracting it while the staple is being driven into the product, the plunger and driver being withdrawn within the periphery of the carrier when the staple is fully driven.

11. A rotary mechanism including in combination two cooperating rotary carriers, a stationary staple former adjacent one of said carriers, a stapling mechanism mounted on said carrier, said mechanism comprising a longitudinally movable plunger having two side guides and a longitudinally movable driver located between said guides, means for moving said plunger outwardly beyond the periphery of the rotary carrier to cooperate with said former to form the staple and for retracting it during the driving of the staple, and means for moving said driver outwardly beyond the periphery of the carrier to cooperate in forming the staple and for retracting it while the staple is being driven into the product.

12. A rotary mechanism including in combination two cooperating rotary carriers, sheet cutting means mounted on said carriers, a stationary staple former adjacent one of said carriers and located outside the path of the knife mounted on one of said carriers, 9. stapling mechanism mounted on said last mentioned carrier, said mechanism comprising a longitudinally movable plunger having two side guides and a longitudinally movable driver located between said guides, said plunger and driver being projectable beyond the periphery of the rotary carrier to cooperate with said former to form the staple, and being retractable and relatively movable during the driving of the staple, the plunger and driver both being retracted within the periphery of the carrier when the staple is fully driven.

18. A rotary mechanism including in combination two cooperating rotary carriers, sheet cutting means mounted on said carriers, a stationary staple former adjacent one of said carriers and located outside the path of the knife mounted on one of said carrier a stapling mechanism mounted on said last mentioned carrier, said mechanism comprising a longitudinally movable plunger having two side guides and a longitudinally movable driver located between said guides, said plunger and driver being projectable beyond the periphery of the rotary carrier to cooperate with said former to form the staple, and devices for effecting retractive relative movement thereof during the driving of the staple.

14. A rotary staplingmechanism including in combination two cooperating rotary .carriers, a stationary staple former adjacent one of said carriers, stapling mechanism mounted on said carrier and comprising a longitudinally movable plunger having two side guides internally grooved to receive the staple legs, a longitudinally movable driver located between said side guides, and means for moving said plunger and driver relatively to their carrier and relatively to each other so that they continuously support the back and both legs oi the staple from its formation until it is driven and clinched.

15. A rotary stapling mechanism including in combination two cooperating rotary carriers, a stationary staple former adjacent one of said carriers, stapling mechanism mounted on one of said carriers and comprising alongitudinally movable plunger having side guides grooved to receive the staple legs, a longitudinally movable driver located between said side guides, means for projecting said plunger to take a wire to be formed into a staple while moving along said former and for gradually retracting said plunger between the end of the former and the common diametral line 01' said rotary carriers as the staple is passing into the carrier, and means for positively moving and causing said driver to support the back of the staple as it is being formed and until it is completely driven into the product and clinched.

16. A rotary stapling mechanism including in combination two cooperating rotary carriers, a stationary staple former adjacent one of said carriers. stapling mechanism mounted on said carrier and comprising a driver supporting the back or the staple as it moves between the end of said former and the common diametral line of said carriers and means for retracting the driver towards its carrier to support and drive the staple into the product between said points.

1'1. A rotary mechanism including in combination two cooperating rotary carriers, sheet collecting and sheet folding mechanisms mounted on one of said carriers, a stationary staple former adjacent the other of said carriers, a stapling mechanism mounted on the last mentioned carrier, said mechanism comprising a reciprocable staple forming and guiding plunger, a reciprocable staple driver, said plunger and driver being projectable beyond their carrier to cooperate with said former to form a staple,-and being retractable to drive the staple into the product, a sheet cutting knii'e mounted on said last mentioned carrier, and a cooperating sheet cutting member mounted on the other carrier.

' 18. A rotary mechanism including in combination two cooperating rotary carriers, a stationary mechanism comprising a reciprocable staple forming and guiding plunger, means for projecting said plunger from its carrier to cooperate with said former in forming a staple and for gradually retracting said plunger during the travel from said former to the common diametral line of said carriers as the staple is driven into the product, and a positively moved driver for backing the staple as it is being driven into the product.

19. A rotary mechanism including in combination two cooperating rotary carriers, a stationary staple former adjacent one of said carriers, a staple mechanism mounted on said carrier, said mechanism comprising a reciprocable staple forming and guiding plunger, means for projecting saidplunger from its carrier to cooperate with said former in forming a staple and for gradually retracting said plunger during the travel from said former to the common diametral line oi! said carriers as the staple is driven into the product, and a driver for backing the staple as it is being driven into the product and means for moving said driver as the staple is being driven.

20. A rotary mechanism including in combination we cooperating rotary carriers, a stationary staple former adjacent one of said carriers, a staple mechanism mounted on said carrier, said mechanism comprising a reciprocable staple forming and guiding plunger and a driver and separate moving means therefor for backing the staple as it is being driven into the product and means for moving said plunger and driver relatively to each other and outwardly beyond the periphery of the carrier.

21. In a rotary stitching mechanism in com bination a rotary carrier, a concentric stationary former, staple forming and driving mechanism mounted on said carrier and including a staple forming and guiding plunger, means for reciprocating said plunger and rolling contact guiding means for guiding the plunger in its reciprocato 'y movement. 22. Ina rotary stitching mechanism in combination a rotary carrier, a concentric stationary former, staple forming and driving mechanism mounted on said carrier and including a staple forming and guiding plunger and a driver engaging the back of the staple, a pair of arms on which one of said members is mounted on means for actuating said member.

23. A rotary mechanism including in combination two cooperating rotary carriers, a stationary staple former adjacent and concentric to one of said carriers, a stapling mechanism mounted on said carrier and projectable beyond the carrier to cooperate with said former to form the staple and retractable into the carrier to guide and drive the staple, said mechanism comprising a plunger for supporting and guiding the staple legs and a driver for supporting the back of the staple, and means for positively and relatively moving the plunger and driver.

24. A rotary mechanism including in combination two cooperating rotary carriers, a stationary staple former adjacent and concentric to one of said carriers, a stapling mechanism mounted on said carrier and projectable beyond the carrier to cooperate with said former to form the staple and retractable into the carrier'to guide and drive the staple, said mechanism comprising a plunger for supporting and guiding the staple legs during the forming and driving of the staple and a driver for supporting the back oi! the staple,

the plunger and driver having positively controlled relative movement.

25. A rotary mechanism including in combination two cooperating rotary carriers, a stationary staple former adjacent and concentric to one of said carriers, a stapling mechanism mounted on said carrier, and projectable beyond the carrier to cooperate with said former to form the staple and retractable into the carrier to guide and drive the staple, said mechanism comprising a plunger for supporting and guiding the staple legs and a driver for supporting the back of the staple during the forming and driving of the staple, the plunger and driver having positively controlled relative movement.

' CURTIS S. CRAFTS. 

